2010 Ford F150 Review

Share this article

While they were once viewed primarily as work vehicles, time has slowly added daily commuter, family wagon and weekend toy-hauler to the humble F-150’s list of responsibilities. With numerous cab and bed sizes, trims ranging from basic to luxurious, rear- or four-wheel drive and a staggering array of optional features, the Ford F-150 is one of the most versatile and capable pickups available.

KBB Editors' Overview

By KBB.com Editors
- Updated Date: 9/10/2009

It is hard to imagine a more inauspicious time to have introduced a new full-size
pickup truck – with the possible exception of the Eve of Destruction – but last year's introduction of the all-new Ford F-150 seems to have defied the odds of failure. Shouldering its way into the U.S. market on a crest of increased capabilities across the board, Ford has correctly figured that the bulk of its sales will come from buyers who genuinely need the unique aspects full-size
pickups offer – big payload and towing capacities among them – instead of those who simply want to be seen in a pickup. With this in mind, Ford engineers have built in class-leading capabilities in both these areas while, at the same time, boosting fuel economy across the board. But don't think they skimped on creature comforts, as the 2010 Ford F-150 offers increasing levels of luxury from among its 35 variants.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you want a truck with serious towing and payload capabilities, yet as quiet and comfortable as many luxury
sedans, then the F-150 should surely be on your shopping list.

You May Not Like This Car If...

For the short-term, the 2010 F-150 doesn't offer a diesel option, so if you are a firm believer in diesel you must shop elsewhere.

What's New for 2010

For 2010, the MyKey programmable vehicle key is made standard on all models except the base XL, while the upscale King Ranch and Platinum models gain heated second-row seats, power sliding rear window with defrost and a Sony six-disc in-dash CD changer. 4x2 models with the three-valve 4.6-liter engine see improved fuel economy.

Driving ItDriving Impressions

Ford is so proud of the F-150's payload and towing capabilities that it might be natural to assume the 2010 version would "ride like a truck." The surprising news is it doesn't. Instead, each and every version of the F-150 we've driven offered exceptional ride quality – no shudders, hops or hiccups – and a level of quiet that was startling. Each version also offered ample power, good acceleration and a level of steering feel and control that belied its size and heft. Perhaps most impressive was the towing demonstration in which we hauled 20-foot trailers with absolutely zero drama, thanks in large part to the pickup's trailer sway control, rearview camera and integrated trailer brake controller, a segment first. Our off-road excursions in the well-equipped four-by-four versions of the truck demonstrated it has the goods to get it done in muck and mire as well.

Favorite Features

Tailgate Step
Designed to deal with the awkward and potentially dangerous chore of getting into the pickup truck's bed, the integrated tailgate step scored big. It deploys easily and even offers a safety hand-hold.

Roomy SuperCrew Cab
The cab in the 2010 SuperCrew has been stretched six inches compared to the 2008 model, and the interior is transformed. In fact, the rear-seat legroom is absolutely limousine-like, and the mechanically articulated second-row seat flips up and out of the way, delivering an ample 57.6 cubic feet of space behind the front seats.

Vehicle DetailsInterior

The 2010 Ford F-150's interior is both attractive and functional. Knowing men's hands would most often be using the controls, Ford designers made the knobs, buttons and switches brawny and put them within easy reach of the driver. The center console was lengthened from the previous version by two inches so it can easily accommodate two or more laptops, and it even has ridges so it can accept file folders. It is just one of more than 30 storage areas built into the interior for things like cell phones and music players. We especially appreciate the dash-mounted USB port and auxiliary music player input, plus the two easily accessible 12-volt outlets – one on the dash and one in the console. Ford also paid special attention to the seats, which are some of the most comfortable in our experience.

Exterior

Two generations ago Ford designers penned a swoopy, almost Ferrari-like F-150 that bowled over critics but didn't play as well with truck buyers. In the two generations since, Ford has made the 2010 F-150 much huskier, with an imposing front end, strong shoulders and a deep, deep pickup box. The three-bar grille is the most important element of the design and if you're paying attention you can tell an F-150 trim level simply by the grille treatment – ranging from simple in the more work-oriented versions to more luxury-car-like looks for the up-level Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum versions.

Notable Standard Equipment

The 2010 Ford F-150 comes in flavors ranging from plain vanilla all the way to banana split with whipped cream, nuts and sprinkles, but one thing all levels share is a robust, hydro-formed, boxed-section chassis that offers 10-percent greater torsional rigidity while actually being lighter than the previous generation's frame. The level of standard safety equipment is truly outstanding, including AdvanceTrac with RSC traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Safety Canopy side-curtain airbags with roll-fold technology for enhanced head protection in rollovers and side impacts. Safety is also enhanced by front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, "smart" airbags and seatbelts and new seats and restraints for superior performance in low-speed rear-end collisions.

Notable Optional Equipment

For those who really use their pickup trucks as trucks, the F-150 offers some exclusive options that are right on the money. Our two favorites are the integral tailgate step that makes clambering into the box easy and the spring-out box side steps that make reaching into the vehicle's deep cargo box much more convenient. Also earning high marks are the stowable bed extender and beefy cargo management system. And for those who have ever left a tool on a work site, never to see it again, the Tool Link radio-frequency identification tracking system enables you to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of the tools and/or equipment stored in the pickup box. When it's kick-back time, Ford's SYNC, SIRIUS Travel Link and a high-powered Sony brand audio system help you while away the time.

Under the Hood

Do you want a gasoline engine or a gasoline engine? Perhaps the only shortfall with the 2010 F-150 is the lack of a diesel option, but the three gasoline engines available – all V8s – offer reasonable fuel economy, aided significantly by the addition of six-speed automatic transmissions in many of the truck's trim levels. A 4.6-liter two-valve V8 takes the place of the previous six-cylinder, a 4.6-liter three-valve V8 uses open-valve injection and the 5.4-liter three-valve is E85-capable. Ford promises that diesel and new EcoBoost high-fuel-efficiency engines will be available in the 2010 model year.

With 35 different variants, the 2010 Ford F-150 is priced across a wide range. Regular Cab XL models have a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) right around $22,000, while a fully laden Platinum SuperCrew can run well over $45,000. Somewhere in between those two extremes is where most buyers will find themselves. A look at the Fair Purchase Price shows the typical transaction price being paid for the F-150 in your area, so be sure to give it a look before you set out to buy. The F-150 is expected to retain a better-than-average residual value, with the SuperCrew models at the top of the chart, followed by the Regular Cab and then the Super Cab. Over a five-year period, the F-150's projected residual value is expected to be nearly on par with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra, better than the Dodge Ram and Nissan Titan but slightly below the Toyota Tundra.

Share this article

Find Deals Near You vehicles for sale matching Ford F150 SuperCrew Cab near Honolulu.See local deals